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Glaus ready to find rhythm as he fills in at third

Glaus ready to find rhythm as he fills in at third

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ATLANTA -- Troy Glaus displayed limited mobility when he began this season as Atlanta's first baseman. Nor was his range exactly impressive when he was given a chance to reintroduce himself to the third-base position while spending the final week of August with Triple-A Gwinnett.

But after watching Brooks Conrad compile eight errors in the previous seven games, the Braves were left with no choice but to utilize Glaus as their starting third baseman in Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Giants on Monday night.

"My legs are fine," Glaus said. "They've been healthy for six or seven weeks. I'm not concerned about being able to make all of the plays. It's just about getting into the rhythm of the game."

It marked the first time since Oct. 2, 2009, that Glaus started a Major League game at third base. But the 34-year-old veteran, who was a shortstop during his collegiate days at UCLA, did reintroduce himself to the position in Game 2 on Friday night, when he was inserted as a 10th-inning defensive replacement in time to begin a game-saving double play.

Before spending the first 4 1/2 months of this season as the Braves' starting first baseman, Glaus had primarily positioned himself at the other corner infield position. He has made 1,307 regular-season starts as a third baseman.

"I've played there a long time," Glaus said. "Once you kind of get back into the rhythm of the game and that, it should all be the same."

With Conrad playing himself out of the lineup with Sunday's three-error performance, the Braves moved Omar Infante from third base back to second, which he had handled for most of the regular season's final two months.

"Everybody feels bad for Brooksy," Glaus said. "I wouldn't wish a day like that upon anybody. But he handled it with the professionalism that he's carried all year long. We're behind him and we've got his back."